New vice mayor appointed — South Palm Beach Mayor Bonnie Fischer nominated Council member Monte Berendes at the council’s June meeting to serve as vice mayor, succeeding Bill LeRoy, who resigned in April, citing health concerns. Berendes was voted in unanimously, 4-0. The council has yet to fill LeRoy’s seat and there has been no indication it will do so anytime soon.
Quorum concerns — Council member Elvadianne Culbertson initiated what proved to be a lengthy discussion about attendance of members at council meetings, but ultimately no action was taken. Council member Raymond McMillan called into several meetings last year and is in upstate New York again this summer. As Culbertson pointed out, if even one of the other three members was not present at the same time there would not be a quorum to conduct business. Berendes, who makes occasional trips to Wyoming, promised to fly back to make sure three members would be on hand.
Town to cover cost of plaque — Mayor Fischer proposed that the plaque dedicated to Hatixhe Laiqi, who was killed by a hit-and-run driver last November while crossing State Road A1A, be paid for by the town, and the motion passed unanimously. Laiqi’s son Beckham Laiqi had asked for the plaque and offered to pay for it. Town Manager Jamie Titcomb said the approximate cost will be $350.
Budget sessions — The Town Council scheduled a budget workshop for 1 p.m. Aug. 12. The first public hearing on the proposed budget for fiscal year 2025 will be at 5:01 p.m. Sept. 9 and the final hearing at 5:01 p.m. Sept. 16. The June financial report determined the town was 67% through the fiscal year as of June 11 and had spent 63% of its budget.
— Brian Biggane
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